Chapter 322: This is My Friend, Barbie Lowe
Chapter 322: Chapter 322: This is My Friend, Barbie Lowe
Sean Fuller blushed and explained, "She’s not my girlfriend yet."
"Not yet?" Michelle Fuller slung an arm around her brother’s shoulder, grinning as she asked, "So that means it’s about to happen?"
Sean pressed his lips together and said uncomfortably, "I can’t be sure yet. What if she says no?"
Michelle hadn’t expected this. ’After that whole thing with Lilian, I’m surprised my little brother isn’t completely scarred. He still has the courage to look for a girlfriend. His mental fortitude is pretty impressive.’
"How could she say no?" she asked, raising an eyebrow. "Just be sincere and you’ll win her over."
Sean asked, "So, should I have her come over?"
Michelle nodded. "Sure. Let Grandpa meet her first."
"Is Sean’s girlfriend coming over?" Mr. Fuller asked with a chuckle.
Sean’s face reddened. "Grandpa, she’s not my girlfriend yet. When she gets here, please don’t call her that. I don’t want to make her feel awkward."
"Got it." Michelle gave him an OK sign. "Don’t worry, we’ll be discreet."
「Twenty minutes later.」
Renee Jennings put Green Hat back in its terrarium, patting its head. "There now, you be good."
The group moved to the main hall for tea and conversation.
Another twenty minutes passed before Sean stood up and said, "My friend’s here. I’ll go meet her at the door."
With that, he hurried off.
Watching him go, the corners of Mr. Fuller’s eyes crinkled with delight. "Looks like I’ll be a great-grandfather soon."
Michelle was munching on the snacks Mr. Fuller had the housekeeper prepare when she suddenly remembered something and whipped her head around to stare at Renee Jennings.
Sensing her gaze, Renee tilted her head to meet it, raising an eyebrow. "What is it?"
Michelle whispered two words: "Barbie Lowe!"
She had almost forgotten.
’The friend Sean mentioned... it couldn’t be Barbie Lowe, could it?’
Her heart sank with a sense of foreboding.
A moment later, Sean walked in carrying a fruit basket. Beside him was a girl with long, wavy black hair.
Michelle gritted her teeth. "It really is her..."
Renee pursed her lips, her expression placid and unreadable.
Barbie Lowe wore a pink cheongsam and took delicate little steps beside Sean, a shy, bashful smile playing on her lips.
But as they neared the main hall, the smile on her face suddenly froze. Her eyes flickered, and a wave of unease washed over her.
Sean, oblivious to her change in mood, happily introduced her to his family. "This is my friend, Barbie Lowe."
"Barbie, this is my grandfather."
Out of the corner of her eye, Barbie Lowe glanced at Renee, feeling ill at ease.
She forced a smile at Mr. Fuller. "Hello, Grandpa."
Mr. Fuller offered a faint smile in return. "Hello."
’She’s not quite what I expected for my grandson.’
Although Barbie Lowe was wearing a cheongsam, it was an extremely form-fitting style. On her, with her large bust, it gave off a somewhat vulgar impression.
"Barbie, this is Renee," Sean said, introducing Renee Jennings.
Barbie Lowe braced herself and met Renee’s eyes. Pursing her lips, she forced a smile and said, "Hi, Renee."
"Hello," Renee replied with a slight nod.
Sean then pointed to Michelle. "And this is Sister Michelle."
"Hi, Sister Michelle." After the greeting, Barbie Lowe feigned a relaxed smile and asked, "Sean, I didn’t realize you had two older sisters."
"Renee is practically my own sister," Sean explained.
Barbie Lowe quietly breathed a sigh of relief upon learning that Renee wasn’t Sean’s biological sister.
’If she’s not his real sister, then it’s not a big problem.’
"Barbie, have a seat here." Sean gestured for Barbie Lowe to sit down and poured her a cup of tea. "Here, have some tea."
"Thank you," Barbie Lowe said sweetly, secretly sizing up the estate.
’To own such a large estate in a prime location like Zenvia... The Fullers are even more influential than I imagined.’
The main hall suddenly fell silent, and the atmosphere grew awkward.
Sean shot his sister a look, urging her to start a conversation.
Michelle rolled her eyes and pretended not to see him.
Sean was speechless.
’What’s going on?’
After sipping her tea for a moment, Barbie Lowe smiled and said, "Sean, didn’t you post a picture of an iguana earlier? How come I don’t see it?"
"He’s in my grandfather’s study," Sean explained. "The conditions out here aren’t right for him, so he can’t stay out for long."
"Oh, that’s such a shame," Barbie Lowe said with a look of disappointment. "I was hoping to get a picture with him. I’ve never seen an animal like that before."
"I can take you to the study to take a picture," Sean offered, standing up. "Do you want to?"
"Would that be all right?" Barbie Lowe asked, feigning hesitation.
Sean waved it off. "Of course it’s all right. Grandpa won’t mind, right, Grandpa?"
Mr. Fuller said flatly, "Go ahead if you want to take a picture."
"Thank you, Grandpa," Barbie Lowe said, getting up joyfully. "Then I’ll have to trouble you to take my picture, Sean."
Sean scratched his head. "It’s no trouble. I’m just worried my photography skills won’t do your beauty justice."
The pair walked off side by side, chatting and laughing, and their figures soon disappeared from the view of Renee, Michelle, and Mr. Fuller.
Michelle got up, walked behind Mr. Fuller, and started massaging his shoulders. She asked with a smile, "Grandpa, you don’t like Sean’s friend, do you?"
"It’s not about liking her or not," Mr. Fuller said with a slight frown. "I just think that while it’s fine for Sean to be friends with her, I don’t think they’re a good fit for a romantic relationship."
"Grandpa, I feel the exact same way!" Michelle’s voice was tinged with excitement.
Hearing this, Mr. Fuller chuckled. "I could tell you and Renee don’t like her."
’That girl, Michelle, she wears her heart on her sleeve.’
’If she liked the girl Sean brought home, she definitely wouldn’t have acted like that.’
"Grandpa, the old saying is right: the older, the wiser," Renee said, giving him a thumbs-up.
Her comment made Mr. Fuller burst out laughing. "Alright, tell me. Why don’t you two like her?"
Renee glanced in the direction Sean and Barbie Lowe had gone and said softly, "Grandpa, if we speak ill of her here, what if someone overhears?"
"I understand. Let’s talk somewhere else, then." Mr. Fuller pushed himself up from the armrests of his large armchair. "Come on, let’s go admire the flowers in the backyard."
「The Study」
Hearing footsteps, Green Hat thought it was Renee coming for him. His dark green eyes stared intently at the study door.
When he saw who it was, his head drooped in disappointment. ’Sigh, no fun.’
The moment Barbie Lowe entered the study, her eyes were drawn to the items on the curio shelves. "Sean, are all these things your grandfather collects antiques?"
"They are," Sean confirmed with a nod.
"Like, *real* antiques?"
"Of course."
Barbie Lowe’s eyes suddenly lit up.
Sean walked over to the terrarium and waved at Green Hat. "Hey, we meet again."
Green Hat was thoroughly unimpressed. ’Boring. You can’t even understand Lizard-speak.’
"Barbie, didn’t you want to take a picture?" Sean turned his head and saw that Barbie Lowe was still standing in front of the curio shelves.